Fuel filter



March 3, 1953 o. A. WRIGHT ETAL v2,630,228

FUEL EILTER Filed oct. 2s. 194e 2 SHEETS- Smm 1 INVENTORS OTIS A. WRIGHT EDWARD H. GODDARD RUSSELL H. COLE ATTO R N EY o. A. WRIGHT Erm.

FUEL FILTER March 3, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed 0G11. 25. 1948 INVENTORS WRIGHT RD' H. GODDARD ELL H.

col.;

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED ASfIV-"VATES PATENT OFFICE 3,630,228 FUEL FILTER .ons A'. wright and Bewaren; Goddard, Burbank,

land Russell VH.Y Cole, PasadenagfCalif.; assignor's',

Byrne'sne'assigninents, to Air Valve, Ine.; Bur' bank, Calipf., a`- corporation` of California Application' october 23, 194.8, sereine. 56,132 8' claims. (ci. zitie'e) The present invention,relatesggrlerally tofiltering means, andris more particularly concerned with improvements in the Yiiltering assemblies (often designated .stacks offltering devices such yas utilized for the filtering of Vfuels and other fluids.

One object of the herein-described invention is'to provide a lter stack'tof novel construction consisting of a plurality of-ltergsections.arranged for assembly in stacked or lsuperposed relation, wherein the assembled sectionsarelinterlocked andV retained inl aposition of vuse by resiliently 1 applied pressure Y,actingin. van axial-vdirectionof the lter element.

A further object is,tof-provide` in connection with a filter element assembly` having a-nluijality of filtering sections in superposed relation-delin- `ing* an axial flow passageladaptedto receive .an

elongate member suchas a stemtherethrough, novel mounting means attheends Ofthe lter stack for positioning ,and supporting thelter stack so that theperiphery of its axialrflow pas.-

sage willl be spaced from ;the outer surface vof said member or stemtoformaowpassage therealong.

Still another object is to provide,anli'mprovedv filter element assembly havingapluralitysotsectional filteringunits of novel,constructionfwhich are arranged for assemblyv stackedor; superposed interlocking;v relationgeach unit being; fabl Y ricated from a pair ofannularyf'dishedplate-libe sections adapted to=y begassembledglin relatively reversed relation; and whereinpar-ts ofthe sec- A tions are so formed as .togact asspacing-elernents between the assembled sections.

unique construction-fabricated from aplural-ity of easily assembled standard sections-of annular disc-like form, the-constructionofv the respective sections being such `4that the completed element.

will be axially compressible and expansible.

Further objects ofthe inventionffwill befbrought out in thev following'part of thespecification,

wherein detaileddescription isffforthe purpose Y of fully disclosing the; invention` without plac-. ing limitations-on the sco-pe oftheiinvention defined in the appended claims.

Referringto the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. l-is a vertical section `through -afvfluid lter. ing device havingY a: lter.. 4element according to the present invention embodied therein;

Fig; 2 is an enlarged sectional-viewers. section portions beinglcutawa'y toldisclose details of coninfection;

.Fgl vis aA sectional view through a portion of the section'unit, taken substantially on line 3 3 vligfi' is a radial section through the section una-taken substantially on line d li of Fig. 2;

tFig. 5 is a' fragrnentary isometric View showing thedetails'ofconstruction of the spacer lugs and other details of the plate-like' members used in fabrication of the sectionunits; and

Fig. f6 isa ltering device illustrating a modiiie'djm'c'iuntingl for a filter element embodying the featuresfo'i the presentinvention.

kReferring',generally,to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is disclosed a1 iilter device A of generally lhollowv construction containing a main body portiolril having a' removable bowl part Il coopveratively associated therewith to form a ltering' chamber l2.

The Y ltering Chamb-e11 communicateswithran inlet fluid passage i3 and an outletpassage, i4' through a tubular seat I5 in thecmain body portion at the upper end of the lterfing" chamber and centrally located therein. [The bowl Il is removably secured in operating psitii by anjinterna'lelongate stem l5 an- ,chredfat its upp'efrrnostv end in a part of the main" body' porticnan'd projecting through the outlet passage ltsoas to depend below the main body, portion offthe device; The projecting end of .thegsternA IltisA arranged to extend through an opeliirlgT 'Il in the'tbottonl of the bowl H, and is .threaded lto receive,V a securing nut I8 which may Y ..355 It is also an object toprovide a; f1lterstak of I be tightened against a washer I9 to retain the bowl ll in secured position' AThe stein I6 where it'v passes through thebottoin of the bowl li is f sealedbyafsealing member 26, and the upper end offthebowl issealed with respect to the main bodyVY portion by means of a sealing ring 2l so that, the' iiltjering chamber will be completely ,sealed'excebt for the inlet and outlet passages .uieieto;

' A lter assembly or stack', as generally indicated at B, constructedin accordance with the presentjpinver'itionr' is -mounted within the lter chamber. Thisfi'lter ystack in general, is comfjpsedoi a plurality of sectional units 22 adapted tof, bel assembled. .in `st 'alclred superposed relation toi form the complete iilter stack whichv is arrangedtobesupported within the ltering chamberby`novel,:supportingfmeans which will sub- Q ,sequently be `described in'de'tail.

. rl'teferrin'gljto, Figs,`2, 'fllfand 5, each unit 22 is compusedl oi'a pair'oi sections each including a `spielen?3' stamped or otherwise formed frorn'an appropriate sheet metal or other suitable material. The spiders 23 are annular' and each is provided with an inner or hub portion having a marginal flange 24 and a peripheral portion including a flange 25, these flanges extending axially in opposite directions. The inner flange 24 defines a central opening 26.

In their intermediate portions (in the general form of annular discs) between the flanges 24 and 25, the spiders 23 are provided with openings 21 that are separated by radially extending spokes 28 which are provided in alternate openings 21 with integrally formed right angled lugs 29, these lugs projecting in the same direction as the outer edge flange 25.

As shown in Fig. 4, a pairof the spiders 23 is assembled in relatively reversed superposed relation with their outer flanges 25--25 in edge to edge engagement, and the lugs 29 extending between the plate members and serving to hold them in spaced relation. By slightly staggering the arms 2S of one plate member with respect to the arms of the other plate member, as shown in Fig. 3, the adjacently disposed lugs 29 overlap each other and maintain the spiders in properly spaced relation.

Filtering elements in the form of fiat rings 3l) of filtering material engage the outer surfaces of the spiders 23, the inner edge of each ring being disposed next to the flange 24 of the associated spider, and the outer' edge of the ring being adjacent the spider periphery. As thus positioned, the filtering material extends over the openings 21 of each spider. The spiders 23 and associated rings 30 of each filtering unit 22 are secured in assembled relation by means of a binding ring 3l which, in cross section, is in the form of an inwardly facing channel, having side Walls 32-32 which embrace the peripheral margins of the spiders 23 and are clamped against the peripheral margins of the ltering elements 30-30 so as to anchor them securely to the spiders 23. The inner edges of the filtering elements 3D are secured by connector rings 33 slipped over the flanges 24 of the plate-like members and interconnecting the filtering units 22 in stacked assembly, as will hereinaft'erbe describedmore fully.

It will be observed, by reference to Figs. 4 and 5, that the inner portions of the spiders 23 are slightly coned outwardly from a point indicated by the numeral 34 in the direction of the associated flange 24. As shown in Fig. 4, the angle of inclination is indicated by the numeral 35, and results in a gradual increase in the space between the spiders 23 of a filtering unit 22, in the unassembled, unstressed condition thereof. The areas adjacent the flanges 24 in the assembled spiders will therefore resiliently resist pressures which are axially applied by assembly connector rings 33-33 in order to bring the coned areas of the spiders into the same plane as the outer areas thereof.

A complete filter :assembly is produced by stacking a plurality of the units 22 in superposed relation as shown in Fig. l. Thus, the units 22 are in end-to-end relation, with the flanges 24 of adjacent units in confronting relation. Connector rings 33 align the units 22 and retain them interior of each unit 22 and filtering openings 21 therein. Due to the previously mentioned resilient action of the coned inner portions of the spiders 23, it will be appreciated that the complete filter stack will be arn'ally compressible and expansible, providing for a breathing action which accommodates expansion and contraction of the assembly in response to temperature changes, While constantly maintaining a tight, sealed fit between adjacent filtering units 22 and the intervening connector rings 33.

One manner in which the filter stack of the present invention may be supported in the filter device is shown in Fig. l. In this arrangement, the filter stack is positioned with a terminal flange 24 piloted within the tubular seat portion I5 which acts to center this end of the filter element with respect to the stem I6. The opposite end of the filter stacl; is positioned in concentric relation to the stem i6 by means of a dished washer 31 having a peripheral flange 38 surrounding the projecting flange 24 of the terminal unit 22 at thisy end of the filter. A compression spring 39 is positioned around the stem I6 between the lter element and the bottom of the bowl Il, one end of this spring acting against a washer 40 bearing against the seal 2D, and the other end of the spring acting against a washer 4| bearing against a sealing ring 42 which is compressible between the washer 4l and dished washer 31 into sealing engagement with the surface of the stem I6.

It will be seen that the spring 39 acts to apply axial pressure between the ends of the filter stack, and moreover, maintains the units 22 in connected relation against lateral displacement. and through the action of washer 31 and tubular seat portion I5, the filter element is located with respect to the stem I6 so that a uniform annular flow passage will be maintained.

A snap ring 43 associated with the stem I8 forms a stop which limits downward movement of the washer 4| under the expansible action of the filter stack, when the spring 39 is removed, for example, when detaching the bowl Il from the main body portion in order to gain access to the filter stack.

In some types of filter constructions, the filter chamber is too shallow to permit the use of a spring lsuch as spring 39 and associated parts for retaining the filter element in mounted position. In order to illustrate the adaptability of the filter element of the present invention for such devices. there is shown in Fig. 6, a filter device having a relatively shallow filtering chamber I2 with a central stem member I6'.

In this device, the filtering chamber is constructed with a circumferentially extending inclined shoulder 44 which forms a seat for the peripheral portion of a dished ring-like partition member 45 provided with an inner' flange 46 adapted to receive therein the outermost flange 24 of the endmost unit 22 of the filter stack, this flange 46 acting in a manner similar to the previously described tubular seat portion I5 to l0 cate the filter element with respect to the stem I6'. At the other end of the filter element, there is provided a washer 46 on the stem IB', this washer having a peripheral fiange 41 adapted to receive therein the outermost flange 24 of the unit 22 at this end of the filter' stack. The washer 46 acts in a manner similar to the dished washer 31 previously described.

As previously explained, a filter stack fabricated from a plurality of units 22 constructed according to the present invention, is axially, compressibleand 'expansible Thus; if the filter stack is'mounted as shown inFigx 'andA compressive centered relation to the stem IS.

We claim:

1. ln a filter: a plurality of filtering units each comprising a pair of annularspiders ofresilient material each includinglan annular hub portion having a flange projectingaxially in one direction; an annular' peripheral portioninclud- "ing a nange projecting axially iii-the opposite direction, and an intermediate annular disc portion joining said inner and peripheral portions and having aperatures therein, annular spiders of each unit being arranged with their respective peripheral flanges facing toward and abutting each other and their respective hub flanges facing away from each other; a plurality of substantially rigid connector rings in which the hub flanges of the nearest spiders of adjacent units are respectively piloted to provide a filtering stack in which said units are stacked on a common axis; a plurality of annular filtering elements supported on the respective spiders and covering` said apertures; casing means enclosing said lter stack and comprising a plurality of sections; and means carried iby said casing sections and engaging opposite ends of said stack under pressure to maintain said stack in assembly with said hub flanges pressed into said connector rings, and with the inner portions of the opposed spiders of each unit flexed axially toward each other so as to yieldingly allow expansion and contraction in said units, and with said hub portions maintained in spaced relation by the engagement of said peripheral flanges and the flexure stresses in said spiders.

2. In a filter: a plurality of filtering units each comprising a pair of annular spiders of resilient material each including an annular hub portion having a flange projecting axially away from the center of the unit, an annular peripheral portion abut'ted against a like peripheral portion of the opposed spider and an intermediate annular disc portion joining said hub and peripheral portions and having apertures therein, annular spiders of each unit being arranged with their respective peripheral iianges facing toward and abutting each other and their respective hub flanges facing away from each other; a plurality of connector rings in which the hub iianges of the nearest spiders of adjacent units are respectively piloted to provide a filter stack in which said units are stacked on a common axis and interlocked -against relative radial displacement; a plurality of annular filtering elements supported on the respective spiders and covering said aperture; and means engaging opposite ends of said stack under compression to maintain .successive spiders in snug interengagement of said hub flange and connector rings and of said peripheral portions, with the intermediate annular disc portions of each unit flexed axially toward each other Vin the -innerportions thereof l'se rv-as to maintain compression in-said stack whileyieldingly allowing expansion and contraction in said units, and with said hub portions maintained in Yspaced relation by, the engagement `of said peripheral flangesy and the flexure stresses in-said spiders. `1%. A filter as defined in claim 2, wherein the inner y'margins of said --iiltering elements are clamped between saidconnector rings-and said spiders. Y t l Y n 4. A filter as'denedinclaim 3, including, for each of said units, a bindingring of channel section, receiving the peripheral portions of the spiders and filtering'elements--ofsaid unit and clamping said I filtering elements against said peripheral spider portions.

5. A'ilter as defined in 'clalm2, wherein said means for'engaging the vrendsof the stack includes resilient-'yielding pressureapplying means adapted -to'accommcdate said axial expansion and contraction by' changes in the -overall axial dimension of thestack.

SyA lterV asl definedin claim-2, wherein said compression applying means comprises a stern extending axially through said stack and spaced from the inned margins of said spider hub portions by an annular flow passage, and means anchored to respective ends of said stem, for transmitting pressure to the ends of said stack.

7. in a filter: a plurality of filtering units each comprising a pair of annular spiders of resilient material including respective annular hub portions having respective iianges facing axially away from the center of the unit, annular peripheral portions including respective fianges facing toward and abutted against each other, and an intermediate annular disc portion joining said hub and peripheral portions and having apertures therein; a plurality of connector rings in each of which the hub flanges of the nearest spiders of adjacent units are respectively piloted, said connector rings being interposed between adjacent filtering units to provide a filter stack in which said units are stacked on a common axis and interlocked against relative radial displacement; a plurality of annular filtering elements supported on the respective spiders and traversing said apertures; said intermediate annular disc portions, adjacent said hub portions, in their unstressed state, being frusto-conical, with said hub portions spaced farther apart than said peripheral spider portions, but in assembly being flexed toward each other in each unit so as to be substantially co-planar with said peripheral portions; and means engaging the ends of said stack and exerting axial compression thereon to maintain said inner spider portions in said flexed state, whereby to maintain tight interengagement between said inner flanges and connecting rings and between said peripheral flanges while yieldingly allowing axial expansion and contraction of said units, the inner margins of said `filtering elements being clamped between said connector rings and hub portions and being maintained in spaced relation by the engagement of said peripheral flanges and the flexure stresses in said spiders, and peripheral binding means clamping the peripheral portions of said filtering elements to said peripheral spider portions, and the latter to each other.

8. In a iilter, a plurality of ltering units each comprising a pair of spiders including peripheral portions having respective flanges facing toward and abutting each other, inner portions of frustoconical form spreading apart toward the center 'of the unit when unstressed and having at their inner margins, hub flanges projecting axially away from each other and abutted against corresponding flanges of adjacent units, and intermediate annular disc portions provided with apertures; a plurality of annular filtering elements supported on respective spiders and covering said apertures, said ltering elements having inner marginal portions closely encircling said anges and defining central openings through which said hub flanges project; connector rings in which said hub flanges of the nearest spiders of adjacent units are piloted, said connector rings being interposed in alternating array between said filtering units, maintaining them in stacked assembly on a common axis, and clamping the inner margins of said filtering elements in sealing engagement with said inner spider portions; a peripheral binding ring for each of said units, of channel section, embracing said abutting peripheral spider portions and also the peripheral portions of the ltering elements and clamping the latter in sealing contact with said peripheral spider portions; and means en REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,084,753 Watson et al June 22, 1937 42,088,199 Gleason July 27, 1937 2,392,354 Alsop Jan. 8, 1946 2,462,488 Gunn Feb. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 390,889 Great Britain 1932 

